April 11, 2005

MTA MIA as Brooklyn Straphangers Rail

Brooklyn Downtown StarBy Michael McLaughlin

Last Thursday... Councilwoman James convened open hearings to discuss MTA-proposed service changes and increased rates on city buses and trains. Commuters were also afforded the opportunity to testify about their experiences with the much-maligned agency. Although it was invited to participate, the Transit Authority did not send a representative to face the public and hear its complaints, a development that surprised absolutely no one.

Remarks from the panelists hit the MTA on all the familiar fronts, such as the potential dangers arising from closing ticket booths, the burden of fare hikes on the working class and its preoccupation with real-estate giveaways for sports stadiums.